The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-20
The Persons Accepted Are Chosen from the
First Thirty Men Called-Eight of the
Jurors Are Democrats.
The Defense Promptly Objects to All
Readers of Indianapolis Papers.
Fifty Dollars-He Will Testify for the
Prosecution-The Trial Begins To-Day.

celebrated case in the annals of political
srimes-the trial Of the men who confederated
and conspired together last November in this
sounty to defeat the will of the people as ex-
dressed by their ballots at the polls. By 1:3o
sclock the sixty who had been drawn rs tales
men had taken seats in the federal courtroom
and an audience Of sixty or more had gathered
and taken mp places the north side OF the
ROOM The ten under indictment-SamuelE e.
Perkins having pleaded guilty in the forenoon
same in one after another, and took seats on the
soGth side Of the courtroom. Stephen Matter.
Simeon Coy, John II. Counselman, Charles N.
Metcalf and John L. Reardon seated themselves
In row In the order named George
Budd and w. F. A. Bernhamer came in later.
Henry N. Spaan. Albert L. Beck and John
T. Sullivan sat at the tables which had been
Arranged for the attorneys in the case. The at
torneys for the defense Byfeld 81 Rowland,
Jason b. Brown, W. d. Bynum, Judge McNutt
and ]. G. MeNutt- Francis J. Matter was
there representa- the interests Of his brother.
Stephen Matter. District Attorney Sellers and
Solomon Claypool represent the interests of the
government. Leon o. Baily also occupied space
1t the table and appeared to be taking notes.
Gresn Smith, of Jennings county. occupied
front seat among the auditors, but got up after
whispered conversation with John f. Sulli-
van, and took place for short time at the
table along with the attorneys for the defense
John w. Kern, Supreme Court Reporter came
In and moved among the attorneys for the de-
Tense, whispering to two three of them and
shaking hands with two three of the men
der indictment.
At o'clock, Col Shuler the court crier,
Judge VIM. A Woods took his seat, hobbled
across the room on his crutches and announced,
Hear ye hear We, the United States District
In M in TwaiyA w
geated in the jury box, the first of those present
In the list of the sixty who were drawn. Turn
ing to these twelve the clerk, Noble G. Butler,
swore them collectively to answer truly such
questions asked them touching their
competency to sit upon that jury in the case of
Simeon Coy and others.
Mr.. Byfeld. for the defense, explained to the
jurors that the case they were called upon to
Try. was the United States against Simeon Coy.
Henry N Spann. John H. Counselman, Charles
N Metcalf, John e. Sullivan, Albert T. Beck,
George w. Budd, Stephen Matter, VIM. +. A.
Bernhamer, and John L. Reardon. The charge
against the defendants was based upon in
dictDent found by the grand jury in the federal
court charging them with entering into a
spiracy Immediately after or before the vection
Of Nov. 2, 1885, in this State and county; the
charge il that they formed conspiracy to
procure the officers OF the various election
boards mentioned in the indictments to not
perform certain duties required OF them at that
election, and that conspiracy was to- get posses
sion of certain taIly-sheets that were delivered
ever 10 them by officers and inspectors at that
election; the charge of the Indictment il con-
spiracy to procure the inspectors of the election
co neglect or not perform some of the duties re-
nuired of them, and to get out OF their posses
sion certain tally sheets and papers that went
into the hands of the inspectors at this election.
The fret twelve seated in the jnry-box await,
ing plucking William A. W. Daily and
Jesse D9gs, of Randolph county; Ezra Wood,
jefferson county; George w. Galloway. Wayne
county: Darius Donham. Vigo county; G. b.
Tarlton, johnson county; Samuel A Donpe
Decatur county; George w. King, johnson
county; John b. May, Warren county; William
stone. Dearborn county; Abraham Kent. Upton
county, and George w. Anderson Cass county.
Have you heard OF this case before you were
summoned as juryman nereP inquired Mr..
II have heard, was the answer that there
a case pending in the courts here some
whore with reference to election frauds"
"Did you read about ii in papersp
az expect / take the county papers"
''Do you take the indianapolis papersp
mo, sir; do not"
''You have not read any statements in any
Indianapolis paper in regard to this easel"
Have you formed or expressed any opinion as
So the guilt or innocence OF any of the de-
PENDANTS herelr
81 have not"
Similar questieas were propounded to each OF
the remaining eleven. Ezra Wood acknowl-
edged to taking and reading the Madison Daily
Courier. Geo. w. Galloway said he read the
Cincinnati Commercial Gazette. the Richmond
Palladium and Cambridge City Tribune. Darius
Donham reads the Terre Haute Express and
Gazette OF that city. Samuel A. Donnel takes
party papers in mis- county. and reads the Semi
weekly Commercial. Geo. w. King read some
thing about the case last fall. He takes daily
paper from Indianapolis. John b. May takes
the Weekly Cincinnati Enquirer. VIM. Stone
knew nothing whatever about she merits Of the
case. Abraham Kemp has been reading the In
dianapolis Journal Geo. w. Anderson takes
the Daily News. of Chicago. He had heard of
the case before coming here from a nei2hbor in
Journal that morning and saw what the case was
Since coming here a friend had spoken to him
about the
sWhat did he saya" INQUIRED Mr.. Byfel6
Hoped they would get justice" said Mr.
Anderson. lit was a lady named Twonsend
who used to live in our village"
This gentleman said he was n little hard of
hearing and did not think he ought to be juror
In the case He said he kept store and some
times misunderstood what customers asked for
I'VE can give him front scat" said Judge
Woods
Mr.. Daily excused by the defense George
Nicholson, OF Miami county. was called to take
John A. Crozier called. Mr.. Crozier. in an swer |
TO questions propounded by Mr.. Byheld said he |
was business manager of the Madison Courier; |
that paper published the news and he read it. |
de was told TO stand aside for cause. George |
W. Vandevender. Vermillion county was called.
Mr. Galloway, OF Wayne county, who read
serving Thomas Gill, of Sullivan county. was
called and excused after a consultation between
the attorneys for the defense.
Daniel 7. Crisher, WABASH county. was
called Daniel w. Crisher appeared. Mr. By
field wanted TO know whether his name was
Crasher OF crusher. The attorney then had
grave DOUBTS as to whether he was the man on
account OF the W.. when Daniel IT, Crisher was
the name drawn. Mr.. Crisher said he was the
only Daniel C , in the county; he had lived
there al ms ire, iorty-two years. Mr.. Crisher
added that he was postmaster at North Man
chester.
'If he Is postmaster he Ia not bound to servo
IL he doesn't want to. )" said the court
IF that will excuse me don't want to serve
Baid Postmaster Crisher
I'VE will excuse you remarked the court.
and Mr.. Crisher departed beaming
Benz f. Gettinger. Gibson county was
sailed, and excused. after two three unim-
portant questions. Thomas Stanley, of Sullivan
eounty, was called. In answer questions he
Baid he took the Indianapolis Daily Journal and
his partner the Sentinel. He read both Of them
and may have drawn conclusions from the Jour-
nails editorials. He was excused. Alfred N
Rlaaaino NJ